Nov. 10, 2010, Panama City, Panama: The best deals on rentals in an emerging market aren’t found through an agent and they aren’t found on the Internet. To get a good deal on a rental property overseas, you’ve got to go direct.

Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

"Boy, that real estate agent sure made a liar out of you, Kathleen," joked one of the attendees at our Live & Invest in Panama Conference last month.

The Finca Life

Nov. 7, 2011, Copa Cabana, Colombia: Copa Cabana, Colombia, is a beautiful mountain town just north of Medellin, Colombia.

Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

"Once again I was pleasantly surprised," writes new Colombia Correspondent Ed Bayer. "Following my most recent visit to The Land of Eternal Spring, I continue to be overwhelmed by the open arms, genuine kindness, and unparalleled willingness of the local population to welcome Americans to their wonderful city of Medellin. On this most recent trip, I was asked by associates in the city to offer my opinion on a development project they're considering undertaking and so had a chance to travel just north of the city to a town called Copa Cabana.

"The concept is to develop a limited quantity of super-energy-efficient 'green' homes for a discriminating clientele. The homes would be constructed on 1 acre-plus parcels perched on the side of a gorgeous green south-facing slope that is part of one of the few remaining fincas nearby the city with enough land to support this concept.

The Four Most Affordable Neighborhoods In Panama City (That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of)

March 28, 2012, Panama City, Panama: These four neighborhoods along Via Tocumen offer the best options and the best value for comfortable, affordable living near Panama City.

Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

"Living in Panama City isn't cheap, not if you're talking about the city center," writes Panama Letter Editor Chris Powers. "Living in popular areas like El Cangrejo, San Francisco, and Costa del Este requires an average budget of no less than US$2,700 per month. And, realistically, you're likely to spend more than that to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle including dining out frequently and filling your pantry with the imported foods you miss from the United States.

"In recent issues of the Panama Letter, I've reported on affordable areas outside the city, but maybe you don't want to live out in the interior of this country. If being near the city is what you desire, but you don't want to pay the price of hanging your hat in Casco Viejo or Punta Pacifica, you must be asking yourself, 'Where do the middle-income locals live?'

"This Isn't What We Expected At All"

Nov. 9, 2010, Panama City, Panama

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Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

On the opening afternoon of one of our Live & Invest in Panama Conferences last year, one of the attendees approached me, nervously, and said, "My wife and I don't like it here. This isn't for us. I think we're going to leave and return to the States tomorrow. This just isn't what we expected at all."